Ellinah is the first woman to be elected as a bishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and of the whole African continent, as the diocesan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Swaziland.

Wamukoya succeeds the Rt. Rev. Meshack Mabuza, who became bishop of Swaziland in 2002.

Wamukoya studied at the universities of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. She was the chaplain of the University of Swaziland and of St. Michael's High School, in Manzini, as well as Town Clerk and CEO of the City Council of Manzini when she was elected.

Her ordination comes as the Anglican Church of Southern Africa — which also includes Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Lesotho — commemorates 20 years since beginning to ordain women to the priesthood.

Wamukoya was not initially an episcopal candidate, but the Elective Assembly invited fresh nominations after seven rounds of elections yielded no results. She subsequently received the required two-thirds majority each in the houses of laity and clergy.